Pothole menace at Automotive square puts commuters at risk

Nagpur: A massive pothole on the left-turn slip road at Automotive Square, where vehicles turn from Kalamana road, has become a daily nightmare for commuters. Despite being located on a cemented road, the crater has remained unattended for weeks, posing serious risks due to its deceptive appearance and hidden dangers.
Often filled with murky drain water, the pothole conceals iron rods that jut out from within, posing a threat to both two-wheelers and pedestrians. The stagnant water, which inexplicably refuses to dry up even in Nagpur's scorching summer, has left residents baffled.
"There's always some water inside it, no matter how hot the day is. We have no clue where it is coming from," said Abhijeet Korgaonkar, a local resident. He added that the pothole is not just inconvenient — it's dangerous.
Arin Yadav, a class 9 student, recounted a near-miss incident while cycling. "You can't see the iron rods jutting out from it," he said. "I almost lost balance when I rode my bicycle over it." Several other commuters echoed similar concerns, pointing out that the pothole is especially risky for those unfamiliar with the road.
The location sees heavy traffic throughout the day, with a majority being large trucks carrying a variety of goods, frequently take a turn at high speed, making the presence of the hidden pothole all the more dangerous. Despite this, no barricades or warning signs have been placed, and the crater continues to damage tyres and suspension systems of unsuspecting vehicles.
Deputy engineer Ashish Kurve of the Public Works Department's (PWD), World Bank Division, said that the department was not informed about the issue. "Had we received any information, we would have initiated patch work and addressed it earlier," he said. He assured to depute a team to inspect the site and take immediate remedial action.